Thread-cutter



H. S. CARSN.

THREAD CUTTER.

APPLlcATloN msn r11/m21, 1919.

, 1 8 49, 320 Patented Allg. 10, 1920.

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HELEN SANTORINAOS CARSN, OF STANFORD, CONNECTICUT.

THREAD-CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

Application filed March 21, 1919. Serial No. 284,208.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HELEN SAN'roRiNnos CARSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thread-Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in thread cutters, and it consists substantially in the construction and arrangement herein `described and claimed.

The foremost object of my invention is to provide a thread cutter of neat and pleasing appearance, arranged to be fitted on a sewing thimble like a fountain pen clip, and so constructed that thread can readily be cut by a stroke to the right or left.

A further object of the invention is to provide a threadcutter attachable to a sewing thimble, which is so small that it will in no way interfere with the functions of the thimble, and still have the cutting edges so effectively arranged that the thread can be readily caught and cut by simply directing the cutter'toward thethread. without having to see to any special position or adjustment of parts.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being-had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view showing the thread cutter in use,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a sewing thimble showing the thread cutter applied thereto,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the thread cutter separated from the thimble,

Fig. 4: is a view showing how threads can be cut by a thrust either to the right or left,

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of the thread cutter, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the thimble, showing the thread cutter applied.

The two outstanding characteristics of the invention are the ready attachability of the thread cutter to a thimble, and the ease with which a thread can be caught and cut by a movement in either one or the other direction without having to first take pains to see that the thread is caught in certain cutting parts, as is usually required in devices of this kind. In support of the first characteristic, the thread cutter lis made of strong resilient. razor steel, formed into the shape of a U-clip as in Fig. 5, so that the free ends press tightly together as at c, but leave a loop at 2.

By reason of the tension of the clip members l of the thread cutter it is not so easy to separate them at the free ends in order to get the thread cutter over the edge 3 of the thimble 4:. To remedy this difficulty, the inner clip member may be made slightly longer as at 5, so that the portion 5 may be fitted on the inside of the thimble at the edge 3 and thus enable a suicient raising of the outer clip member to fit over the edge of the thimble, thereafter simply pushing the thread cutter up into the final position shown.

ln support of the second characteristic, the thread cutter is preferably formed in the shape of a conventional ieur-de-lis which of itself provides a pair of inwardly curved arms 6. The ends of these arms 6 are slightly bent or curled up at 7 for two purposes: First, to catch and guide the threads against the sharpened cutter edges 8 on the inside of the arms 6,-and second, to act as fenders or guards in a measure, to ward off accidental contact with the cutter edges.

Ehe latter function can be best understood from Fig. 5, Here the catcher ends 7 are shown standing out far enough to ward off contact with the cutter edge 8 under ordinary circumstances. Of course the possibility of one pressing a part of the hand or fingers so firmly on the cutter edges of the thread cutter is rather remote, but it is well to understand that it would require considerable additional pressure against the thread cutter to bring the iesh against the cutter edges, because any such tendency will be prevented by the catcher ends under ordinary circumstances.

It may also be stated at this time, that although it is preferable to make the thread cutter in the design shown, other designs may be employed to equally good advantage without Vdestroying any of the important features embodied in the present design. There is also considerable variation in the material of which the thread cutter may be made. As stated before, it is preferably made of razor steel so that the cutter edges 8 can be ground to keen cutting edges and maintain the sharpness for a long time.

The resiliency of the clip members l is of a proportion to maintain the thread cutter on the thimble under all circumstances, after it is once applied. VIn this connection it should be observed that in cutting threads, the tendency is to pull the threadcutter farther over the edge 03": the thimble rather than pull the thread' cutter away' from the thimble. rlherefore, each time,V a thread vis cut, any tendency ot' the cutter to slip oli, and such tendency is indeed very remote, Will be counteracted by againV pulling the vthread cutter into place. rllhe loop 2 at the bottom of the thread cutter?. accommodates the beaded edge 3 of the thimble so that the clip members l can lie in close contact With the inner and outer surfaces, as shown in Fig. 6.

While the construction and arrangement oi the thread cutter as herein described and claimed, isthat of a generally preferred form, obviously modifications and changes may be made Without vdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

claim:

l. An attachable spring clip thread cutter arranged to be itted over the edge of a thimble, including lateral thread cutting means forming a part ot the clip attachment, and having protected inner cutting .edges lying very close to the body or" the thimble to offer no obstruction in using the thimble.

2. A detachable spring clip thread cutter attachment for thimbles, comprising a body of suitable kind and shape to provide members under tension to retain the cutter in place When applied to a thimble, one of said members including a portion enabling the easy separation of the members and fitting of thecutter to the thimble; vlaterally extending cutter arms including sharpenedV ledges 'carried b the eXternallY eX )osed member; and suitable end formations embodied in said arms for catching and directing a thread to the cutter edge by a stroke in either direction.

3. ln combination with a thimble, a thread cutter with laterally directed curved arms lying against the' thimble and having sharpened edges onr vthe inside adjacent to the thread cutter body and thimble, and iiicluding outwardly curved ends providing a vshield for the adjacent cutting edges, serving to Ward ofi' contact vWith the cutting edges by the hand of the user When pressed against the thread cutter.

4L. A thread' cutter cl'p attachment for' 

